Our Story

Our History

In 2007, wildfires devastated San Diego and the surrounding community. In response, NuVasive® developed the Cheetah Family Relief Fund to support those affected. The NuVasive “attitude of gratitude” proved contagious, and soon the fund was supporting a number of charitable organizations and causes – but that wasn’t enough.

Changing Lives, One Spine at a Time

In 2009, The NuVasive Spine Foundation (NSF) was formed as a separate non-profit entity, dedicated to helping people suffering from debilitating back pain in countries where there were few spine surgeons capable of performing the life-changing surgeries they needed to live full and healthy lives.

NSF recognized that it was uniquely positioned to share the innovative technology and expertise of NuVasive with the world and that it could do so through mission trips.

After all, it’s not just about the lives we change today. It’s about empowering communities to be self-reliant by training local surgeons on the ground, so that our impact does not end when we go home.

Today, through the generosity of our supporters, the innovative technology and expertise of NuVasive, and the partnership of like-minded organizations, we are responsible for more than 1,050 life-changing spine surgeries in 31 countries and have logged more than 600 hours training local surgeons.

The future of NSF is bright and like any successful organization, we continue to evolve to meet the incredible global need.

Why It Matters

Meet Mosisa

As a teenager, Mosisa was diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, but the surgery he desperately needed was nothing more than a dream. Mosisa spent the last decade in pain, and feared he would lose his job as a mechanical engineer and ability to provide for his family.

In October 2017, Mosisa’s wait was over and he received spine surgery thanks to a NuVasive Spine Foundation (NSF) mission trip in partnership with Global Peace & Love Foundation. Determined to have the surgery, he drove more than 200 miles by himself to the hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Now, Mosisa is looking forward to rebuilding the life he thought was lost. Help more patients like Mosisa get a second-chance at life.
Donate to NSF today!

Financial Information

NSF is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Tax ID # 26-4835245). Donations to NSF are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

As a private operating foundation, NSF spends more than 85% of the total dollars raised each year, on NSF’s direct programs and services: Mission Trips and the US Assistance Program.

Please Note: This NSF funding request form is for grants in support of nonprofit organizations focused on providing life-changing spine surgery in disadvantaged communities across the globe. If you have a request that is in support of a research project, educational event, or fellowship program directly related to spine, please visit NuVasive Corporate Grants.